Ask yourself: Is this an in-law or an outlaw calling?

SCAMwatch (Australia) is advising consumers to beware of scammers who phone requesting money, speaking in the consumer’s native language including Serbian, Croatian, Polish and others. These callers will often say they are calling on behalf of a relative living overseas who needs money for travelling costs or medical bills.

The caller claims to be acting on behalf of an overseas family member or relative who needs money for travel, hospital costs or debts. They say the relative is one you have not met before. One variation is that the caller may pretend to be an immigration official from the Australian Government calling to confirm your relative’s request for money. The scammers most often ask for the money to be sent overseas via an international wire transfer service. It is rare to recover money sent this way.

Be wary of any unexpected contact from someone claiming to be a relative who you don’t know. Always check first with extended family to ensure the person is who they say they are. You can report scams to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) via the report a scam page on SCAMwatch or by calling 1300 795 995.